Climate change is a ‘moral issue’

The Rev Dr Lackson Chibuye, minister in the United Church of Zambia, visited Scotland in November with a stark message for the developed world: our emissions are already wreaking havoc on his country’s climate, and we must take steps to reduce the harm our lifestyles cause.

“It’s a moral issue”, he said. “If you are going to do whatever you are going to do regardless of whether it aff ects another person, then morally that is wrong.

“So (rich countries) have a moral obligation to listen to the poor countries. Poor countries like Zambia are most aff ected by climate change, and are the least able to cope with its impacts.

“They have the least capacity to adapt and yet have the world’s smallest greenhouse gas emissions. In 2014, Africa as a whole was only known to contribute 0.3% of the world’s total emissions.”

Dr Chibuye, a Presbytery Bishop (Moderator) with a 900-member church in the Zambian capital Lusaka, has a doctorate in eco-theology and is passionate about encouraging his church – and others around the world – to help in the fight against climate change.

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